304 or 316 Stainless Steel

The 300 series of stainless steel includes; 301, 302, 304, 310, 316, 317, etc. and cover a variety of applications. Some are suited better for high temperatures (the H designation), others are low carbon (with an L). The most popular and widely used is 304 stainless steel. We manufacture and sell 304 or 316 stainless steel nipples to our clients. And due to recent capacity increases, we can produce sizes of 4″ to 12″ using 304 or 316 stainless.

The grade 304 is an austenitic chromium alloy also known as “18-8” because it is made up of 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel stainless. Where there is no nickel, you have 400 stainless which are magnetic and even less corrosion resistant. The 304 & 316 are not magnetic. Check out some of our other articles, if you want to know more about stainless steel.

What is the difference between 304 and 316-grade stainless steel?

316 stainless steel is more corrosion resistant and often used in applications such as; kitchens for sinks, ovens, etc.. Stainless Steel with 316-grade alloys are typically used for connections and tubing. The 316H grade is made to work in higher temperatures. Unlike 316 & 316L it isn’t stocked with dual certification. 304 stainless only has trace amounts of molybdenum which makes it less corrosion resistant than 316. The popularity of the 304 relates directly to its ease for welding and fabrication. The 316 austenitic stainless steel is regarded as second in importance to the 304 grade but is also great for welding. The 304L and 316L both contain low carbon that making them better options for applications that require welding.

304 or 316 Stainless Steel Nipples

As we said, Detroit Nipple Works primarily uses 304 or 316 stainless for manufacturing nipples in this material. We, of course, produce nipples using other types of steel pipe but for stainless, these are the most popular. Your choice between 304 and 316 really depends on the application. For example; 304 steel materials are used for chemical and high-pressure containment vessels. Whereas, many industries use 316 nipples for surgical equipment and pharmaceutical equipment and so on. 316 or 316L is the best choice for stainless steel nipples in chloride environments as you will have less pitting and acid-based corrosion.

For more information on 316 or 304 stainless steel nipple application please call our experts at 313-872-6370 or inquire through our contact form. If you already know what you want, please fill out our request for quote form on what you need. Will it be 304 or 316 stainless?